Hyderabad: The EAMCET 111 test held on Thursday for admissions to MBBS and BDS courses in Telangana witnessed poor attendance with a mere 66.25 percent of candidates, given hall tickets, showing up. This was the third test held in Telangana, after the paper leak scam in July this year.The EAMCET II recorded 90 % attendance.

The problems that medical aspirants have been going through to get a medical seat could be the reason for the poor attendance witnessed for EAMCET 111. “The delay in schedule of Eamcet-III may have taken a toll due to which scores of aspirants skipped the medical entrance test. Also, those who may have got ranks through NEET may have gone ahead with that score,” said an official from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad.

Out of the 56,153 candidates issued hall tickets, only 37,199 candidates appeared for the exam, stated a JNTUH, press release. The highest attendance was recorded in Hyderabad (division C) with 6,939 (77.03 per cent) giving the test, while the lowest was witnessed in Tirupati, where only 1,751 candidates (48.80 per cent) appeared for the exam. There were 96 test centres across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

The EAMCET III question paper consisted of 160 multiple choice questions. The preliminary key was declared by the university on Sunday and objections, if any, are to be declared before September 14. According to officials, results will be declared in a week. The web counselling schedule and seat allotment will be declared after the results by the university. The number of medical seats have increased by 450 this academic year, however, poor attendance would make competition less tough this year.

The Supreme court mandated Oversight Committee on the Medical Council of India’s order has increased the medical seat numbers in Telangana from 1,900 seats to 2,350 in private medical colleges. The total number of MBBS seats in Telangana has now gone up to 3,350, including 2,350 in private colleges and 1,000 in the six state-run medical colleges.